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RMS has a long and distinguished reputation with regard to pastoral care. We know and value each and every one of our pupils, and fostering their happiness and well being is our highest priority. We seek to cultivate the girls’ self esteem and self confidence, but also to imbue within them an awareness of the wider community. Charity fundraising and voluntary service feature strongly, and we hope that RMS girls learn to appreciate what they as individuals can do for others.
Tutorial System
Each year group of approximately 88 girls is divided into four tutor groups. Year 7 tutors form a specialist team of staff with particular experience in working with the youngest members of the Senior Department. Indeed, all staff are asked to express a preference in terms of tutoring so that we have teachers working with their preferred age groups. The Form Tutor is the first port of call for a girl or parent with a concern. The Form Tutor meets with the girls twice daily and the group has an extended form period once a week.
Heads of Year
The Head of Year leads fortnightly assemblies and offers strong leadership and guidance to the girls in her charge. Heads of Year meet weekly with the Deputy Head to discuss individual girls and agree action. All members of the Senior Team work with an open door policy and girls often choose to chat informally to the Deputy Head or Headmistress.
Housemistresses
Boarders’ welfare is the responsibility of the Housemistress and her team and is described more fully on the boarding page. V ery close liaison between tutors, Heads of Year and Housemistresses ensures that staff share a full picture andwork together for the benefit of each girl.
Network of Support
Pastoral care is a highpriority and our fully staffed Medical Centre is vital to the girls’ wellbeing. Our team of four trained RGN's provide health care offering confidential advice and support on a wide range of medical matters for the whole school community and also provide overnight and weekend medical training cover for boarders. The boarding house staff meet with the duty nurse daily and the senior nurse meets weekly with the head of pastoral and the head of boarding. A fully qualified and experienced Counsellor spends a full day at RMS each week and girls can make confidential appointments to see her.
The resident Chaplain is an important resource and girls know that the Chaplain will offer a sympathetic ear to them whatever their faith background.
Sixth Formers are trained as Peer Mentors and act as Year Prefects, offering advice and support to younger girls.Year 9 girls train as Big Sisters for the new Year 7s and this “buddying” system has provided reassurance to girls new to RMS.
Assemblies
Assembly brings together the school community, either in the Great Hall or in Chapel. The meeting may be led by the Headmistress, a member of staff, the Chaplain or a Form Group. We aim to make the spirit of the meeting meaningful to all girls of whatever faith, and representatives from other faith communities are welcome guests at assembly.
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